Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1905

Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State.

American Embassy,
St. Petersburg, July 26, 1905.

No. 133.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 50, dated July 10, the same being in answer to my dispatch No. 16 of April 28.

As further efforts seemed futile to secure the unconditional removal of the existing discriminating duties on certain products of the United States, I sounded Mr. Kokovtzoff, the Russian minister of finance, as to his willingness to adjust existing differences by means of a commercial agreement with the United States on the basis of section 3 of the tariff act of 1897. Mr. Kokovtzoff, after reading the section referred to, replied quite frankly that it was his desire to remove the present discriminations, but as these duties had been levied during Mr. Witte’s tenure of office, he felt that the latter should be taken into consideration. Therefore he requested me to address a letter to him making the suggestion that I had made verbally. * * *

I inclose herewith copy of my letter addressed to the minister of finance.

I have, etc.,

G. v. L. Meyer.

[Inclosure.]

Ambassador Meyer to the Minister of Finance.

American Embassy,
St. Petersburg, July 13/26, 1905.

Your Excellency: Conforming with my conversation of to-day in respect to the removal of discriminating tariff to which certain American products are subjected, I desire to ascertain, under instructions from my government, whether the Russian Government would be willing to adjust the existing differences by means of a commercial agreement with the United States on the basis of section 3 of the tariff act of 1897.

I also take the liberty of calling to your attention that the assessment of duty by the United States on sugar and petroleum products was not made under a revocable order of this Department by way of discrimination against Russian commercial interests, but under a mandatory provision of law in section 5 and paragraph 626 of the tariff act of July 24, 1897, which apply alike to importations from all countries granting a bounty on exportation or imposing a duty on petroleum or its products from the United States. Taking this into consideration, I trust your excellency will be able to advocate the removal of the existing discriminating tariff duties to which certain American products are subjected when imported into Russia.

I avail, etc.,

George von Lengerke Meyer.